How Much Does Montreal Cost per Day
A full breakdown of Montreal prices: daily budgets by tier, every itemised cost from the guide, and where the money actually goes.
The short answer
Budget travellers in Montreal spend around CAD 115 a day. Mid-range travel runs closer to CAD 350, and a splurge day lands around CAD 760. Per person per day in CAD, roughly USD 83 / 253 / 549 at roughly USD 1 = CAD 1.39. Quebec's combined sales tax (5% GST + 9.975% QST, about 15% total) is added at the till, not shown on the sticker price, and a 15-20% tip is standard at restaurants and bars.
Daily cost breakdown
- Stay
- Food
- Transport
- Activities
| Tier | Stay | Food | Transport | Activities | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | CAD 55 | CAD 35 | CAD 12 | CAD 13 | CAD 115 |
| Mid-range | CAD 220 | CAD 75 | CAD 12 | CAD 43 | CAD 350 |
| Splurge | CAD 450 | CAD 160 | CAD 40 | CAD 110 | CAD 760 |
A mid-range day: CAD 220 boutique hotel room in the Plateau split two ways or solo in a mid hotel, an STM day pass for transit (confirm the current price, fares changed in 2025), CAD 32 MBAM admission, a CAD 12 bagel-and-coffee breakfast in Mile End, a CAD 20 smoked meat sandwich lunch, and a CAD 55 dinner with a glass of wine in the Plateau. Add 15% tax and a 15-20% tip at the sit-down meals.
Every priced item in this guide
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Notre-Dame Basilica | CAD 16 adult, CAD 15 senior (65+), CAD 14 student (17-22), CAD 10 child (6-16), free under 6, CAD 40 family pass (2 adults + 2 children) for the daytime visit; AURA evening show runs CAD 37 adult, CAD 32 senior, CAD 31 student, CAD 22 child; a combo ticket for both starts around CAD 45 |
| Mount Royal Park | free (parking is paid) |
| Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MBAM) | CAD 32 general admission (ages 26+); free for 25 and under and for members. Wednesday evenings 5-9pm run a reduced CAD 16 for ages 26+ (confirm this promotion is still running before you go); free for seniors 65+ Tuesday mornings 10am-1pm, free for families Saturday mornings 10am-1pm, and free for Quebec residents the first Sunday of the month with reservation |
| Old Port of Montreal (Vieux-Port) | free to walk the waterfront; paid attractions inside price separately and weren't independently confirmed this research pass, check montrealsciencecentre.com and the operator sites directly |
| Jean-Talon Market | free to enter, bring cash for the smaller stalls |
| Saint Joseph's Oratory | free to enter the basilica; museum and dome/observatory access, if applicable, weren't confirmed this pass, check saint-joseph.org |
| Underground City (RESO) | free |
| Smoked meat sandwich | CAD 10-16 |
| Montreal bagel | CAD 1-2 each |
| Poutine | CAD 8-14 |
| Tourtiere | CAD 12-20 |
| Market produce and cheese | CAD 5-25 depending on what you buy |
| Maple products | CAD 6-20 |
How to spend less
- MBAM runs several free-admission windows (senior mornings, family Saturdays, first Sunday of the month for Quebec residents); check the calendar before buying a full-price ticket
- Mount Royal Park and the Old Port waterfront are both free and are two of the best things to do in the city
- Jean-Talon or Atwater Market for a picnic lunch runs well below a sit-down restaurant for better produce
- Skip the paid Old Port attractions (Science Centre, Grande Roue) if budget matters; the free waterfront walk and Mount Royal lookout cover the view and the atmosphere